Cupola installation having vibratory feeder

ABSTRACT

The side charging opening in the stack of a cupola is made only large enough to receive the discharge end of a vibratory feeder but is much too small to admit therethrough into the stack the charging bucket used to transport charging material up to the charging opening. The vibratory feeder is retractably mounted so that the inner discharge end may be disposed well within the stack, preferably to slightly beyond the center thereof, and may be withdrawn so as to be essentially on the outside of the stack. By substantially reducing the size of the charging opening so as to accomodate only the discharge end of the feeder there is a proportionate reduction in the amount of air that enters the cupola stack and adds to the volume of flue gas that requires cleaning in order to achieve adequate pollution control. Preferably, a charge spreader that may be in the form of a cone or other desired configuration is suspended within the stack in approximately the center thereof and at a level even with or slightly below the bottom of the charging opening. In a preferred construction a spreader cone is suspended by a water cooled arm which is rotatably mounted so that the spreader cone and arm may be both swung out of the main flow path of hot and abrasive gases during burn-down or at other times as desired. Excellent distribution of the charge is obtained as the result of vibrating the conveyor platform of the vibratory feeder to uniformly feed the charge from the discharge end thereof while simultaneously oscillating or reciprocating the conveyor platform with the discharge end thereof moving diametrically within the cupola stack. The charge spreader enhances this excellent distribution.

United States Patent [191 Vandril [4 1 Sept. 4, 1973 CUPOLA INSTALLATION HAVING VIBRATORY FEEDER William A. Vandril, Chicago Heights, 111.

[73] Assignee: Whiting Corporation, Harvey, 11].

[22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No; 119,704

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner--.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Att0rneyGreist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey [5 7 ABSTRACT The side charging opening in the stack of a cupola is made only large enough to receive the discharge end of a vibratory feeder but is much too small to admit therethrough into the stack the charging bucket used to transport charging material up to the charging opening. The vibratory feeder is retractably mounted so that the inner discharge end may be disposed well within the stack, preferably to slightly beyond the center thereof, and may be withdrawn so as to be essentially on the outside of the stack. By substantially reducing the size of the charging opening so as to accomodate only the discharge end of the feeder there is a proportionate reduction in the amount of air that enters the cupola stack and adds to the volume of flue gas that requires cleaning in order to achieve adequate pollution control. Preferably, a charge spreader that may be in the form of a cone or other desired configuration is suspended within the stack in approximately the center thereof and at a level even with or slightly below the bottom of the charging opening. in a preferred construction a spreader cone is suspended by a water cooled arm which is rotatably mounted so that the spreader cone and arm may be both swung out of the main flow path of hot and abrasive gases during burndown or at other times as desired. Excellent distribution of the charge is obtained as the result of vibrating the conveyor platform of the vibratory feeder to uniformly feed the charge from the discharge end thereof while simultaneously oscillating or reciprocating the conveyor platform with the discharge end thereof moving diametrically within the cupola stack. The charge spreader enhances this excellent distribution.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU E 4 i975 SHEET 1 BF 2 .INVENTOR WILLIAM A. VANDR/L J ATT'Y PATENIEDSEI' 41915 3.756L430 snmaorz INVENTOR WILLIAM A. VANDRIL ATT'Y CUPOLA INSTALLATION HAVTNG VIIBTTATURY FEEDER This invention relates generally to innovations and improvements in cupola installations with the primary object of substantially reducing the volumes of air admitted into cupola stacks through the side charging openings therein while obtaining excellent distribution of the charge and of otherwise improving the operation of the cupola.

Cupola installations are well known and generally comprise the cupola proper with a charging opening in the side of the stack and an associated skiphoist having a charging bucket which shuttles between a bottom loading station and an upper discharging station within the cupola stack. The charging buckets may take various forms particularly in respect to whether it discharges through the bottom or toward the side.

Heretofore, the charging openings in cupola stacks have been relatively large in order to freely admit therethrough the charging buckets. Because of the relatively large sizes of these charging openings large volumes of air necessarily enter the stacks therethrough. It has now become increasingly necessary to filter and clean the flue gases from cupola stacks in order to comply with various pollution control regulations. This cleaning operation adds to the cost of operating a cupola and a substantial proportion of the cleaning operation is attributable to the large volumes of air entering through the large charging openings in the stacks.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a cupola with charge feeding means of a nature whereby the normal size of the charging opening may be substantially reduced so as to thereby substantially reduce the volume of air entering the stack therethrough and requiring cleaning.

Another important object of the invention is to provide the stack of a cupola with a charge spreader in the form of a flat cone or other configuration which is suspended in the stack adjacent and below the discharge end of a vibratory feeder preferably with both the spreader and vibratory feeder arranged to be withdrawn from the stack interior during periods of burndown and at other times as desired.

Still a further object of the invention is to water cool the support means for the spreader cone or other form of spreader, thereby protecting and prolonging its useful life.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of automatic trip means for the charging bucket of a cupola installation whereby as the charging bucket reaches its upper discharging station it automatically trips thereby tilting or rotating so as to discharge or dump its contents on the vibrating deck of a vibratory feeder discharging into the cupola stack.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved cupola installation wherein a vibratory feeder may be readily shifted or oscillated between an innermost position wherein the discharge end is disposed well within the cupola stack and an opposite position wherein the dischargeend is partially or entirely withdrawn from the stack whereby more uniform and effective spreading of the charge within the stack and cupola is obtained.

Certain other objects of the invention will in part be bovious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing the mid portion of a cupola melting furnace with a side charging opening in the stack and showing the upper portion of an S-type skiphoist and the charging bucket thereof in its dumping relationship with a vibratory charge feeder disposed for feeding through the side charging opening;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the lower portion of the skiphoist partially shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the cupola installation taken generally on line 3-3 of HG. l with the charging bucket in its upright position as indicated in broken line in FIG. ll.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cupola is indicated generally at 5 while the upper end of the S-type skiphoist is indicated generally at 6. It will be understood that the cupola 5 may be of conventional cupola melting furnace construction including a lower refractory lined body portion 7 and an upper stack portion d. The stack 8 has a side charge opening 10 which is approximately square in the embodiment shown and which is substantially smaller than would be found in a conventional cupola. For example, with the stack b having a diameter of ten feet the charging opening is square and typically 5 feet 8 inches on each side. This charging opening 10 is substantially smaller than conventional since ordinarily it would have to be large enough to accomodate the free entrance and removal therethrough of a charging bucket. Typically the area of opening 10 is between one-quarter and one-fifth the conventional area.

In the cupola installation shown in the drawings the skiphoist 6 includes a side dump charging bucket ill of conventional shape and capacity. The bucket discharges its contents onto the inclined conveyor platform or deck of a vibratory or shaking feeder indicated generally at 12. This feeder 12 may be of known com mercial construction and includes an inclined or downwardly pitched platfonn 13 which is actuated or vibrated in known manner by means of the mechanism indicated generally at M. This mechanism M is of known type and serves to impart the typical vibratory movement or action to the platform 13. The vibratory feeder l2 is suitably mounted on a base frame indicated generally at '15 which is provided with four depending corner brackets 16-16 each of which carries a support roller 17. These rollers 17 are grooved or flanged so as to fit over the upper rail portions M-llb (FIGS. l and 3) of a pair of parallel horizontal support members 20-20.

The vibrating platform 13 of the vibratory feeder 1l2 fits between the parallel bottom edges of a pair of side hopper plates or skirts 21-21 joined together at rear edges by an inclined back member 22. The forward portions of the stationary sides Zl-ZT are vertical and suitably notched so as to project within the stack opening 10, fitting closely against the sides of that opening.

The vibratory feeder i2 is arranged so that it can be reciprocated or oscillated in a generally horizontal direction between a forward or innermost position as shown in full line in FIG. l and a retracted position as indicated in broken line therein. The reciprocating or oscillating motion is provided by means of a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 24 supported in a sleeve 25 which is trunnioned between the upstanding sides or cars of a support 26. The piston rod 27 of the cylinder 24 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a depending projection 28 on the underside of the base frame 15 of the feeder 12. When the vibratory feeder 12 is in its forwardmost or innermost position the discharge end 30 thereof is preferably positioned slightly past the center of the stack 8 as measured from the charging opening 10. This permits the charge to be fed and dropped onto the far side of a spreader cone indicated generally at 31. The cone is supported by a short length of chain or swivel links from the outer end of a water-cooled arm 32. Accordingly, the cone is free to deflect in any direction which action enables it to better withstand the impact of large objects that may be in the charge, e.g., heavy castings, etc.

At its outer end the arm 32 is fixed to the mid-portion of a tubular horizontal rocker rod 33 (FIG. 3) the ends of which are suitably journaled in a pair of bearings 34 and 35 mounted on support brackets 36 and 37, respectively, on the side of the stack 8 adjacent the lower corners of the opening 10. The rod 33 projects beyond the support bearing 35 sufficiently to receive and have fixed thereto one end of an arm 38 having its opposite pivotally connected at 40 to the fitting mounted on the outer end of the piston rod of a double-acting cylinder 41 which is pivotally supported on the top of a bracket 42 extending from the side of the stack 8. By actuating the double-acting cylinder 41 it will be seen that the arm 32 supporting the spreader cone 31 may be upwardly rotated to the position shown in broken line in FIG. 1 in which the arm 32 rests against the bottom edge of opening 10 and sufficiently retracts the spreader or deflector cone 31 from full exposure to the abrasive action of the hot gases and flames that pass up through the stack 8 during burn-down. Cooling water may be supplied through a flexible hose connection 43 connected at one end of the hollow support rod 33 and discharged through another flexible connection 44 on the opposite end thereof. The cooling water flows inwardly through one end of the hollow rod 33 to a plug therein and then inwardly through one side compartment of the hollow support arm 32 to the outer end thereof where it reverses direction and passes outwardly through another side channel in the arm and out through the opposite end of the hollow support rod 33.

Suitable framing and support structure is provided for the cupola 5, vibratory feeder l2 and skiphoist a portion of this framing and structure being shown in FIG. I in the form of columns 45-45 and crossbeams 46-46.

For the most part, the S-type skiphoist 6 has a convcntional construction and basically consists of suitable structure and mechanism to efficiently move or shuttle the charging bucket 11 between its upper discharge position as shown in FIG. I and its lower charge-receiving or loading position as shown in FIG. 2. In addition to the suitable structural and support or framing members the skiphoist 6 comprises a pair of generally S-shaped track members or rails 50-50 which may be in the form of I-beams so that the top and bottom surfaces thereof serve as rail members while the space intermediate the top and bottom flanges will also accomodate a guide roller.

The charging bucket 11 is carried and supported on a typical carriage 51 which comprises a generally rectangular frame 49 the front or upper corners of which support or carry brackets 52S2 each of which supports a set of rollers 53 and 54 which ride on the top surface of the upper flange of one of the S-rails 50. At each lower or rear corner the carriage 51 carries a bracket 55 which carries a roller 56 which runs or rolls on the underside of the lower flange of the rail 50.

The bucket 11 is supported forwardly and upwardly of the carriage 51 on the outer ends of a pair of upwardly forwardly extending side arms 57-57. These arms 57-57 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the bucket 11 above the center of gravity thereof by trunnion pins 58-58. The center of gravity of the charging bucket 11, both loaded and unloaded, is always below the level of the pivot pins 58. Accordingly, the charging bucket always assumes an upright position as it travels up and down the rails 50 between its bottom and top position.

Means are provided for tripping and discharging the bucket 11 when it reaches the upper end of its travel. This means consists of pivotally hanging on the upper and forward portion of the charge bucket 11 as indicated at 59-59 the upper ends of a pair of arms 60-60 the lower ends of which are interconnected by means of a non-pivoting rod 61 extending horizontally therebetween and having an intermediate offset section 62 which clears the bottom of the bucket 11 during dumping. Normally the arms 60-60 assume the position shown in FIG. 2 under the influence of counterweights 69-69 (FIG. 2) supported on the upper ends of the arms 60. As the charge bucket 11 reaches the upper end of the track 50 the outer ends of rod 61 engage in the openings of a pair of hooks 63-63 provided underneath the upper end of each rail 50-50 as shown in FIG. 1. Continued movement of the bucket 11 after the rod 61 has been caught in the hooks 63 causes the bucket to tilt forwardly about an axis through the pins 58-58 to its full discharge position as shown in FIG. 1. After the bucket is discharged and has started to move downwardly to its loading position it soon reaches a point where the rod 61 becomes unhooked and thereupon the bucket assumes the upright position.

The bucket 1 1 is propelled up and down the skiphoist by a winch which is indicated generally at 64 in FIG. I. The winch 64 is mounted on a superstructure which includes a platform 65. The winch comprises an electric motor 66 which drives a pair of cable drums 67-67 through a gear box 68. The cables carried on the winch are connected in known conventional manner to the skiphoist carriage 51 so as to controllably move the carriage up and down the rails 50. Thus, one end of each cable 71 is connected to an upstanding ear 70 (FIG. 2) on a lower or rear comer of the carriage 51 while the other end of that cable is wound on and secured to a cable drum 67. The motor 66 is of the reversing type so that the operator can control the movement of the charge bucket 11. It will be understood that the combined weight of the bucket 11 and carriage 51 are such that the assembly tends to ride down the rails 50 under its own weight. However, the downward movement is controlled by regulating the speed of the winch motor 66.

In operation, the skiphoist 6 is used to charge the cupola 5 with the desired charge that normally consists of scrap iron, coke and limestone. With the vibratory feeder 12 in operation as the loaded charging bucket l1 arrives at the upper end of its run at the top end of the S-tracks or rails 50, the bucket is tripped in the manner described above so as to dump its contents onto the vibrating platform 13. At the beginning of the charging operation the vibratory feeder may be in its most advanced position with the discharge end 30 of the feeder platform 13 being at its maximum penetration into the stack 8. The charge is continuously fed off the end 30 and falls down onto the spreader or deflector cone 31. As the charging progresses, the actuating cylinder 24 retracts the vibratory feeder 12 until the feeder end 30 is just inside the opening and then it is extended into the center of .the stack thereby imparting a continuous oscillating movement to the feeder. It will be understood that the rapidity of movement or frequency oscillation of the vibratory feeder 12 may be controlled as desired.

The vibrating action of the feeder 12 in combination with its oscillating movement and the action of the deflector or spreader cone 31 serve to provide uniform and excellent distribution of the charge with the materials being spread evenly out to the entire periphery of the interior of the cupola.

Desirably after charging has been completed, the cylinder 41 is actuated so as to rotate the arm 32 to its upper retracted position so that the spreader cone 31 is moved out of the direct path of the hot and abrasive gases during burn-down.

lt will be understood that the support arm 32 for the deflector or spreader cone 31 could be so mounted that the arm would oscillate inwardly and outwardly with the discharge end 30 of the vibratory feeder 12 being left in approximately the center of the cupola or stack during charging. This relative movement would provide essentially the same even spreading action as obtained with the cone 31 being stationary and the discharge end 30 oscillating over the cone.

By way of a further change it will be understood that instead of using a side dump charging bucket arranged to tilt and dump its contents on the vibrating platform or deck 13 of the feeder 12, a dropleaf or clamshel] charging bucket could be moved or handled by means of a crane and the contents of the charging bucket could be dropped through the bucket bottom onto the feeder deck or platform 13.

Substantial savings can be realized by having the charging opening 10 in the stack 8 substantialy smaller than it would have to be to accomodate the entrance and withdrawal of a charging bucket. For example, it is estimated that by this substantial reduction in size of the charging opening, it is possible to reduce the cost of pollution abatement equipment by about 40 percent and to reduce the power consumption for gas cleaning by at least 35 percent. Such reductions in equipment costs and savings in operating costs are substantial and highly worthwhile.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a cupola installation wherein the stack of the cupola has a side charging opening and the charging bucket shuttles up and down the skiphoist between a bottom loading station and an upper discharging station adjacent said charging opening, the improvement which comprises, having said charging opening substantlally smaller than said charging bucket so as to minimize air intake into the stack, having a vibratory feeder mounted with its discharge end projecting into said opening and with its receiving end disposed to have the contents of said bucket discharged thereon, having said charging bucket pivotally mounted above its empty and filled center of gravity on the outer ends of supporting arms projecting from the skiphoist carriage and having automatic trip means in part mounted on said bucket and in part on said skiphoist for autoy matically rotating said bucket to its discharge position as it reaches its upper discharging station.

2. The installation and improvement of claim ll wherein said automatic trip means comprises a trip arm pivoted adjacent its upper end on one side of said charging bucket and having a projection adjacent its lower end, and stationary catch means mounted at the upper end of said skiphoist for engaging said Projection and imparting forward tilting movement to said bucket.

3. In combination with a cupola having a charging opening in the side of the stack, a vibratory feeder including a vibratory conveyor platform and means for vibrating the same retractably permanently mounted adjacent said opening whereby the discharge end of the vibrating platform of said feeder may be reciprocated diametrically with respect to said stack between a retracted position at said opening and an innermost discharging position within said stack, and reciprocating means operatively connected with said feeder for reciprocating the same while said vibratory conveyor platform is being vibrated, said charing opening not being substantially larger than required to accept said discharge end of said feeder.

4. In the combination called for in claim 3 a charge spreader centrally disposed within said cupola stack adjacent and below said discharge end of said feeder in its innermost discharging position for spreading charging material falling from the discharge end of said feeder. 5. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein said charge spreader is a conical member pivotally supported for universal tilting action from an arm rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of said stack charging opening whereby said arm and spreader may be swung upwardly to a retracted position in said opening.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said support arm for said spreader is water cooled.

t t t 2' t 

1. In a cupola installation wherein the stack of the cupola has a side charging opening and the charging bucket shuttles up and down the skiphoist between a bottom loading station and an upper discharging station adjacent said charging opening, the improvement which comprises, having said charging opening substantIally smaller than said charging bucket so as to minimize air intake into the stack, having a vibratory feeder mounted with its discharge end projecting into said opening and with its receiving end disposed to have the contents of said bucket discharged thereon, having said charging bucket pivotally mounted above its empty and filled center of gravity on the outer ends of supporting arms projecting from the skiphoist carriage and having automatic trip means in part mounted on said bucket and in part on said skiphoist for automatically rotating said bucket to its discharge position as it reaches its upper discharging station.
 2. The installation and improvement of claim 1 wherein said automatic trip means comprises a trip arm pivoted adjacent its upper end on one side of said charging bucket and having a projection adjacent its lower end, and stationary catch means mounted at the upper end of said skiphoist for engaging said Projection and imparting forward tilting movement to said bucket.
 3. In combination with a cupola having a charging opening in the side of the stack, a vibratory feeder including a vibratorY conveyor platform and means for vibrating the same retractably permanently mounted adjacent said opening whereby the discharge end of the vibrating platform of said feeder may be reciprocated diametrically with respect to said stack between a retracted position at said opening and an innermost discharging position within said stack, and reciprocating means operatively connected wIth said feeder for reciprocating the same while said vibratory conveyor platform is being vibrated, said charing opening not being substantially larger than required to accept said discharge end of said feeder.
 4. In the combination called for in claim 3 a charge spreader centrally disposed within said cupola stack adjacent and below said discharge end of said feeder in its innermost discharging position for spreading charging material falling from the discharge end of said feeder.
 5. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein said charge spreader is a conical member pivotally supported for universal tilting action from an arm rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of said stack charging opening whereby said arm and spreader may be swung upwardly to a retracted position in said opening.
 6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said support arm for said spreader is water cooled. 